Why Small Groups?

People today are desperate for community and connection. Lyle Schaller says "The biggest challenge for the American church is to address the discontinuity of the American lifestyle." In past generations, you could plan on seeing the same people along your everyday path. Today, we find lives subdivided by activity and change. God's plan for wholeness (or shalom or "peace") includes relational stability and support.

When God designed His Church, he never intended for you or I to do it alone. He created us with the need for relationship. At First Free, we help facilitate small groups because we believe that is where community happens best.

We believe that small groups fit the model of the early church. "Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts…" (Acts 2:46)

There were large group meetings and small group meetings. Large group meetings were for teaching and worship. Small home-based groups were for fellowship and the meeting of one another's needs. Just as you need two legs to walk somewhere, the body of Christ needs both large groups and small groups to walk with Christ.

Our Groups

We look for ways to help people obey the hospitality (1 Pet. 4:9, Romans 12:13) and one another (John 13:34, Romans 15:7) commands of scripture through regular meetings.

Groups have the same overall vision as that of FEFC, which is a restatement of the Great Commission (Matthew 22:37-39) and the Great Commandment (Matthew 28:20)

"First Evangelical Free Church exists to bring people to Christ, connect them to God's Family, mature them in their faith, equip them for ministry, so that God's name is exalted (Worship).

Groups function as a connecting tool to be used for the other purposes.

Joining a Group

There are a few ways into groups;

1. Join during a kick-off series, held twice a year: once in late September and once following soon after the New Year. Groups will typically meet weekly for their first several weeks together and then sort out what their future group will look like.
2. Contact our groups coordinator about joining one of our open groups. Several of our on-going groups have room for you to visit and join them. Contact Jennifer Bartle at 612 824-5120. or email her at jenn.bartle {at} gmail.com
3. Create a group. If you are serving somewhere already and would like to create an open group, we offer training and resources to help you get started.

Frequently asked Questions

Q. What if I don't like my group?

A. God wants us to love all people, but we want to work with you to find a group that fits you. We start with a seven week commitment because it is long enough to find out if there is some chemistry there, but also short enough to not scare away new people.

Q. What if someone wants to join the group after it's begun?

A. This comes down to your groups expectations. We hope that most groups will be "open" to new people even mid-stream. There are better seasons than others to join groups, understandably, but if a group understands someone is checking out their group the ministry of the group is stretched and grows. We will work with leaders to place new people in their groups.

Q. What about childcare?

A. There are many solutions to childcare, ranging from early bed times to paying a group babysitter, to trading off childcare to other groups on certain nights.

Q. What kinds of groups do we have?

A. We have mixed-age groups, women's groups, men's groups, groups with kids, groups without.

Q. What happens in a group?

A. Group leaders ultimately determine this. All groups have some time to hang out, study the bible, and pray for one another. Some groups do more of "life" together than others.

Q. When & where & how often do groups meet?

A. Groups meet in homes, or wherever is specified by group leaders and at times specified by group leaders. The are most often in the evening. Groups meet either weekly or bi-monthly.

Q. What if I have special needs?

A. We all have special needs! If you need transportation or have some other potential difficulty, please let us know. We're here to serve and love you!

Other Questions? Feel free to contact Jennifer & Brian Bartle at (612) 824 5120, jenn.bartle {at} gmail.com, or brian.bartle {at} gmail.com.